I’m starting to read The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I know–talk about being late to the party. It’s been one of those novels I’ve wanted to read ever since it came out. I want to see the movie so I’m going to read the book first.
This morning, I finally saw online the interview Cormac gave to Oprah. I heard how awful the interview was–how uncomfortable Cormac appeared and how unresponsive he seemed to be. After watching it, I came to this conclusion–Cormac is like many authors I’ve met over the years.
He was uncomfortable talking about his work because there is something a bit shameless about the process.
Writers are not celebrities who bask in the spotlight. Some enjoy getting out there and speaking and interviewing and all that, but most novelists don’t. Most novelists enjoy immersing themselves in their stories and letting the publisher market them. We live in a new day and age where Twitter tells all and where authors have to hawk their wares and themselves. But Cormac McCarthy is simply a novelist from another era.
I noticed during the interview that Cormac’s hand almost shielded his face, that he looked slumped in his chair as if he was trying to hide. The most revealing part of the interview was when Oprah asked if The Road was a love letter to his son. Cormac blushed and paused for a moment, then admitted it was in a shy and awkward way.
I loved watching this.
I believe most novelists not only immerse themselves in their stories, but they are able to hide behind their words. The publishing machine means that for those of us who haven’t won a National Book Award and a Pulitzer, we’re forced to sell our books anywhere and everywhere. I’ve resigned myself to this very fact. I often say that trying to sell my novels often feels like I’ll selling t-shirts with my daughter’s face on the front–that’s how shameless it can seem to be.
It feels shameless because a novel is not a toothbrush. It’s a personal part of you. Whatever genre it might be, it’s still comes from a private and unseen place. You have to mentally separate the personal aspect of writing a story with the public part of selling it.
Cormac’s interview with Oprah simply reminded me of the hundreds of novelists I’ve met who have this awkward tension regarding marketing. It’s a tension I feel every day and every time I say BECOME OF A FAN OF MINE ON FACEBOOK or WIN A FREE BOOK or PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF MANKIND COME TO MY BOOKSIGNING.
Having not won the Pulitzer yet, and having not written my The Road, I’m resigned to carrying my shopping cart full of books across the country with my daughter holding my hand, carrying a sandwich board that reads BUY A BOOK AND FEED A CHILD.
Too funny…my copy of The Road arrived yesterday. I guess the party is still jammin'. 🙂 BTW, sharing your passion for your upcoming book has marketed itself. Now I feel compelled to buy a copy. 🙂
Buy and book and feed a child. That is hilarious. You make it out like selling snake oil on the back of a caboose. LOL Hey, I met you, T, at the B&N Spooky Night in Geneva, and you are no Cormac McCarthy. By that, I mean you have no shielded face, no bah humbug attitude like our self-effacing Mr. McCarthy. You are outgoing and gracious and well-spoken. Truly, you even came across this way on your Ipod Podcast. And I am sure the ladies book club that sent you’re the retro Redskins sweatshirt would say the same. Bottom line, you need no street corner and sandwich board, you just keep writing and being your good self and we’ll all keep buying and spreading the word and you will someday write you’re The Road.
The movie, as you know, is already getting panned. I knew it would—the novel is just too good. I refuse to see the movie for fear that it’ll taint my mind and I will never enjoy The Road in written form quite as fully again. I mean, please, I already have the stone-faced actor Viggo Mortensen etched in my mind now from the movie poster—thanks a hell of a lot, Hollywood. I had him pictured as more of a cannoli-munching Paul Giamatti type. So, no movie for this hombre. That said, I found the book a treat to read. Fascinating in that it is a straight line story—I am sure I’m missing some stock writing word here—that is basically following the two characters over time. Sort of a slice-of-life, but straight, like the road itself. Very stark. Looking forward to your take on it all on your blog when you are done.
I, too, enjoyed Cormac’s interview with Oprah (and frankly, although the comments lambast Oprah for a miserable interview, I must say, her subject was dry as a scarecrow. Heck, he did everything but hide under the seat cushion, for chrissakes). Love where he says, “Simple declarative sentences”, and describes punctuation as “funny little marks to block up the page”. Strunk and White would love his declarative sentences, but likely strangle him for leaving out the colons and semicolons (as opposed to Irving, who seems obsessed with, in particular, the semicolon; he’s a gas)..
Read on, brother Travis. Ease on down The Road.
Appreciate the comments, Brock and Coolkayaker1! Hope you guys had a great Thanksgiving. I've already been inspired to make a new year's resolution: I'm giving up quotation marks in my books. Thanks Cormac for your wisdom in this matter. 🙂